Many drivers feel that they are placing their lives at risk while traveling on New York highways. Sharing the road with people who speed, are distracted at the wheel or act under the influence of alcohol increases the risk of collision. Several roadway maneuvers improve safety, one of which is known as “the zipper merger.” Executing this practice when merging helps prevent car accidents.
The term “zipper” refers to the pattern that occurs as drivers in the moving lane allow vehicles from the blocked lane to enter their lane. When implementing a zipper merger, a driver will continue to stay in the on-ramp to the end, accelerating to try to match the speed of traffic, then safely merge into the traffic flow as the merge lane comes to an end.
Never block someone who is trying to execute a zipper merger
Data shows that the zipper method is a much safer way to merge with traffic rather than trying to enter the lane at the start of the merge lane. This causes drivers in the clear lane to hit their brakes, which can result in rear-end collisions. In a successful zipper merger system, approximately every other vehicle is allowing a vehicle from the blocked lane to enter, thus giving the appearance of the teeth on a zipper coming together.
Car accidents are more likely when road rage occurs
If drivers exhibit signs of road rage or do not allow other drivers to execute a zipper merger, car accidents may occur. Collisions that take place at merge points often result in severe or fatal injuries. New York law provides recourse to recovering victims and immediate family members of fatally injured victims by allowing them to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim in civil court.